My Trip To Alabama

Taking a road trip on my own has been a bucket list item for me. The thought of the open road with MY music and guilt-free stopping filled me with excitement and fear.

Will I enjoy 10 hours on the road by myself? Will I become restless and regretful 2 hours into the trip? Will the thought of 10 hours going home fill me with dread for the entire trip?

All those questions filled my head, but I kept coming back to the thought: maybe, but we will soon find out!

If you haven't heard of Alabama Chanin, you should read their story. I admire the work Natalie Chanin has put forth to create a brand with a mission. I attended their annual symposium with the hopes of hearing from master artists and collect information to add to my value statement. What I found was that and much more.

Several artists spoke during the event. One artist that stood out was Windy Chien. Her new book is called: The Year of Knots. Not only does this book offer pages of clear instructions on how to make different kinds of knots, but it also includes her beautiful story of how she began her knot journey.

Windy had 2 knotting workshops at the symposium. By the first knot, I was hooked. I decided to buy her book with excitement about incorporating knots into my handmade items. I was filled with inspiration the entire road trip back home. By the way, it was far more enjoyable than I could have dreamed. I didn't want it to end!

What I didn't expect was a homecoming filled with doubt and insecurity. Anytime I feel this overwhelming demon whelling up in me, I do my best to continue "doing". I find the act of just "doing" keeps me progressing forward. This book gave me tools to do something with my hands while also offering words of encouragement. We each have a journey. The beautiful part about our journeys is that the rocky will always lead to smooth if we let it. Reading while creating got me through the slump of doubt and into a mindset encouraging growth.

Learning new things can be intimidating, but it can also lead to unexpected transformations within. That is why I love it when a student comes to me and we get to explore a skill together. If reading this ignites something within you, I encourage you to explore that spark. Who knows what journey it may lead you to!